Jun Davide and that ‘leap into hell’

“Hindi naman talaga kailangan i- revise (ang Constitution). Just a few changes.”

-- Rep. Roger Mercado, chairman, House committee on constituional amendments, Jan. 7, 2018

Two persons who helped write the 1987 Constitution view with alarm the rush to amend the highest law of the land in the administration’s ongoing move to shift to a federal form of government.

Christian Monsod, also former Comelec chief, last February told the Senate committee on constitutional amendments that we shouldn’t blame the Constitution for the failure to implement it. It’s not failure of the Constitution but of those who enforce it. A number of policies such as those on social justice and the dynasty ban still have to be translated into law.

Cebu’s Hilario Davide Jr., also former Supreme Court chief justice, last November warned against “a lethal experiment” and “a leap to hell” by changing into federalism. The outstanding Cebuano jurist said a strong local autonomy and decentralization will do the work; what may just be needed is amending Local Government Code, not the Constitution.

Two exercises

There seem to be two “perilous” exercises the administration is set to do. And both are targeted to be completed in the next four months. By May, along with the barangay and youth elections, the revised Constitution would be submitted to the people for ratification.

The dreaded moves are: (1) changing the form of government into federal and (2) amending the Constitution. The public is clueless as to the changes and the form it will take.

Kind of animal

Although two groups or commissions are reportedly preparing drafts of the new Constitution, President Duterte, Senate President Koko Pimentel, or House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez hasn’t given the nation an idea as to “what kind of animal” the new government will be: federal presidential or federal parliamentary? No debate among lawmakers and the public can begin without even the foggiest sense of the shape, if not the substance, of the government to come.

Pros and cons must be weighed, especially on such sensitive issues as extension of public officials’ term and who’d mind the store while struggling in throes of transition.

Review and changes

As to amendment process, did you hear what Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said yesterday (Sunday, Jan.7)?

First he said the work won’t require amending the document. It will only be a “revisit or review.” In the same breath, Mercado also concedes the changes will be “specific, surgical changes,” “hindi yong drastic,” to adapt, he argues, to the present condition.

Once on the table

There it is. “No amendments” but there will be “changes,” though “not drastic.” Double talk even in the face of reality that once the constitutional assembly (Con-Ass) is convened, the entire Constitution lies helpless on the operating table.

For surgery on specific body part--or total butchery.

The Cebuano ex-SC chief justice calls the rush to amend the Constitution and shift to federalism a “lethal experiment, a plunge into death”